Submarine mine.



T. K. NORTH.

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZ, 1911.

1 ,299,601 Patented Apr. 8,1919.

T. K. NORTH.

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLICATIQN FILED 1ULY2| I917.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- IIII'IFI'IIIIIII ggA,

r k h gill 1717' 3 SHEETS-SHEET a.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

T. K. NORTH.

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLICATION FILED suwz. 1911.

OFFiQE THOMAS KEPPEL NORTH, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND; ASSIGNOR TO VICKEBS LIMITED, OF -WES'l.IlltlIIlil'STIlsLB EN GLAND.

sUBMAmNE MINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that -I, THoMAs Knrrm, NORTH, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Vickers House, Broadway, Westminster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new 'and useful Improvements in or Relating to Sub marine Mines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to submarine mines of the kind provided with means for automatically causing the flotation chamber or mine proper to be anchored at a predetermined depth beneath the surface of the water.

According to the invention I so construct and arrange the parts of the mine that when launched the mine will sink as a single unit until it reaches the sea bed, Whereu n, after the lapse of a certain interval of time, the flotation chamber will rise toward the surface of the Water and subsequently be drawn downward to assume a predeter- 'mined depth below the surface. For this purpose the mine may comprise three main parts or elements, viz: a fiotation chaimber containing the explosive char e, an anchor, and a sinker. At the time of aunching, the sinker is of a weight sufiicient to overcome the combined buoyancy of the flotation chamber and the anchor; and the anchor is of the kind that has a varying buoyancy, that is to say it is made hollow so that on launching it possesses buoyancy but subsequently loses its. buoyancy by having water admitted to it either by a slow leakage or by the opening of a water inlet port controlled by the flotation chamber. Interposed between the sinker and the anchor is a cable or chain (hereinafter termed the sinker cable) whose effective length corresponds to the depth to which the flotation chamber will be anchored beneath the sur face of the water, andinterposed between the anchor and the flotation chamber is another cable or chain (hereinafter termed the anchor cable) which, when the flotation chamber rises toward the surface, is paid out from the anchor preferably against the resistance or friction of a suitable brake. The flotation chamber is normally locked Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fll ed July 2; 1917. Serial No. 178,247.,

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

to the anchor and the latter is detachably connected to the sinker, so that at the time of launching, these parts constitute a single unit and sink to the sea bed in that condition. After the lapse of a suitable interval of time, the anchor' is released from the sinker and together with the flotation chamber to which at this time it is locked, floatsupward until arrested by the sinker cable. When this cable becomes taut the anchor is automatically released from the flotation chamber and the latter is permitted to raise toward the surface of the water by the paying out of the anchor cable. During this time the sinkerca/ble continues in its taut condition, but when the flotation chamber emerges from the water and momentarily loses its buoyancy, the tension on the sinker cable diminishes and thus permits suitable means to become operative for preventing further paying out of the anchor cable. Sea water is then allowed to enter the hollow anchor so that after a short interval of time the weight of the anchor is increased sufliciently to overcome the buoyancy of the fi0tation chamber and sink, thereby drawing the latter beneath-the surface of the water until the anchor rests on the sea bed; that is to say the flotation chamber will at this time v have assumed a depth predetermined by the effective length of the sinker cable and will be anchored at that depth.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect the same will be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 to 6 illustrate diagrammatically various positions of the mine after being launched and finally coming to anchor with the flotation chamber at a predetermined depth beneath the surface of the water.

Figs. 7 and 7* show a longitudinal section of the mine showing the general arrangement and construction of the internal parts. according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that in this figure owing to want of space on the sheet the mine has been separated into two parts along the line X X one being sli'own on Sheet 2 and the other on Sheet 3 and that these two parts are actually disposed end to end and constitute one piece; also that parts of the mine have been removed at the lines Y Y and Z Z.

A is the mine body or flotation chamber which contains within the casing A the explosive charge. B is the hollow anchor and C is the sinker. E is the sinker cable and F is the anchor cable. Fig. 1 shows the parts A, B and C as a connected whole or single unit after the mine has been launched and has reached the sea bed, the anchor B being y at such time located within the sinker C. The

anchor'may be locked to the sinker by means i of a device of the slow releasing or delayed action type such as a dash-pot contrivance or a plug of soluble salt, and for locking the flotation chamber to the anchor a mechanically releasable coupling device is employed. Fig. 2 shows the position of the parts just after the flotation chamber A and anchor B, still locked together, have been released from the sinker C and the sinker cable E has commenced to pay out under the upward pull due to the combined buoyancy of the flotation chamber and hollow anchor. Fig. 3

shows theposition of the parts after the water into the anchor the additional weight I sinker cable E has become taut and the flotation chamber A has been released from the anchor B, the anchor cable F having just commenced to pay out from the anchor B.- When thesinker cable E becomes taut," the coupling device connecting the flotation .chamber A to the anchor B is released and the anchor cable F is paid out from the anchor against the resistance or friction of a brake. Fig. 4' shows the parts when the flotation cham er by its buoy ancy reaches and emerges from the surface of the water, both the sinker cable E and the anchor cable F being taut. -As the mine emerges from the water the tension on the sinker cable E diminishes, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby allowing a suitable locking device to come into action to prevent further paying out of the anchor cable F. At the same time the interior of the anchor B is placed in communication with the external water, thereby allowing the latter to enter the said anchor B. Following on the entry of the of the mine and its internal mechanism for causing the separation of the parts in the manner above explained with reference to Figs. 1 to 6, for which purpose reference will be had to Fig.7, it being understood that the parts shown by'this fi re are shown'only by way of example and t at I do not intend my osition of the invention to be limited thereto. In this figure the partsare shown in the position they occupy prior to the launching of the mine. The-sinker C isconstituted by a long cylindrical casing open at one end and contain-' ing the hollow anchor B which is also of cylindrical form, the said open .end receiv ing the contiguous end of the flotation chamber A which-is likewise of cylindrical form. In) the example shown the anchor B is detachably locked to the sinker Cby means of a delayed action deviceH which is in the form of a dash-pot and comprises a cylinder H attached by means ofna screw threaded part H to the base of the anchor B, and a piston H having a rod H connected by a transverse pin H to the sinker C. The cylinder H has an enlarged portionH near its outer end and the piston is detach ably connected to the piston rod by means of a detent pin H having a conical or hemi- I spherical end which engages a similarly s aped circumferential groove H in the piston rod. .When the mine is launched (prior to which a safety screw G carried by the sinker is disengaged from a flange G on the anchor) and reaches the sea bed, the tendency of the flotation chamber and the anchor to move upward under the influence of-their buoyancy against the resistance of the sinker will cause relative movement between the cylinder H and the piston H with the result thatthe piston will move slowly down the cylinder H compressing the heavy oil beneath it, until the detent pin H reaches the enlarged portion H of the cylinder, whereupon the said pin'H will become'disengaged from the piston rod H and release the latter, thus rendering theflotation chamber and anchor free to rise and leaving'the sinker on the sea bed.

The sinker cable E (which is a chain in the example shown) is secured at one end to the sinker and at the other end to a shackle hook I connected to the. lower end of a spring controlled rod J the length of this cable determining the eventual depth below the surface of the water, which the flotation chamber will assume when finally anchored; The said rod J extendsaxially through the anchor B and its upper conical end J abuts against and holds fast the coupling device that detachably locks the flotation chamber to the anchor as will be hereinafter described. The anchored cable F is wound around the cylindrical exterior surface of the hollow anchortB which is composed of a cylindrical casingclos'ed at 'L" which is pressedby'means of a spring which is so mounted that relative movement can take parts, the said loose dis K carrying a braking device L and being formed with an aperture or eye L'through which theanchor cable F passes. The said loose disk K is also formed with a circular o ening L? for coeperating with a spring p unger M and it lsalso formed with an opening L for uncoverin the water inlet opening L. The braking evice L comprises a plunger L into contact with the surface 0 the upper end plate B' of the anchor. pressure exerted by the plunger L" is capable of adjustment by means of a screw threaded nut L. Mounted within a dependin B, is t eplunger M which tends to move upward by the action of a spring MF. 4 In the side of this plunger is a longitiidinal slot M terminating in recesses M, M with which cotjperates one end'of a transverse rod 'M the other end passing through an opening in the boss B of theend plate B gilfbulgting against the spring controlled ing the paying out of the anchor cable F relative movement can take place between the disk K and the anchor under the control of the spring brake L. The upper end of the anchor cable is connected to a shackle F pivotally mounted in a boss 0 at the base of the flotation chamber A to which boss is also'screwed or otherwisesecured the end of a rod 0' forming part ofthe firing gear and surrounded by the striker spring 0 and carrying the striker head 0 as will be hereinafter more fully described. Mounted within the aforesaid flanged member N are radially displaceable detents N 2 having beveled or chamfered ends and elongated grooves N with which engage screws N carried by the flanged member N. Connected to the lower end of the flotation chamber are hooked members P, the free ends of which engage the outer ends ofthe detents N? and thereby lock the anchor to the flotation chamber. The rod J is formed with a circumferential groove J 8 and is provided with a sleeve J connected to the rod J and having at its upper end a collar J between which and the boss B of the lower end plate B is a helical spring J. On the anchor B and the flotation chambar A rising by their buoyancy clear of the rotary lace between these th'enr rises by its buoyancy,

chamber M in the'upper end plate.

is a flanged member which is car-. ried by the boss B and surrounds the upper sinker C and the sinker cable E being rendered taut, the

h rod J ig-retgagted therellily comjpressingt e sp an ringing t e conical end J of rod opposite the de tents N which are then free to move 'inwardly. The upward pull of the flotation chamber then causes 'the hooked members P to. force inward the detents N and unlock the connection betweentthe' anchor and the flotation chamber. The flotation chamber anchor cable F as it ascends, relative rotary movement at' the same time taking place between the disk K and the anchor, against the resistance. of the brake L. When the flotation chamber reaches and emerges from the surface of the waterand rebounds, the tension on the sinker cable E diminishes and permits the compressed spring J to re-actand force the rod J upward'until the groove J comes opposite the inner end of the rod M and'renders the latter free to move radially inward. By the relative rotary movement between the disk K and the anchor, the opening L will come opposite the end of the plunger M, when the inner end of the rod M" will be forced intov the groove J and the plungerM will then move upward under the influence of its spring M until the recess M in the lower end of its slot M is engaged by theouter end of'the rod M. The plunger M being now in engagement with the opening L any further unwinding of the anchor cable is prevented owing to the relative rotary movement between the disk K and the anchor being stopped. The water inlet opening L in the end plate B of the anchor W111 in the meantime be maintained uncovered by the opening L in the disk K coming opposite thereto, thus allowing the water to flow into and sink the anchor B, which in its descent will draw the flotation chamber A downward to the desired depth of immersion. The water inlet opening L may be -closed if desired by a soluble or automatically detachable plug.

There is provided around the upper end of the flotation chamber A, a number of (say three) contact members Q which when in their operative condition are adapted to be struck by a passing ship in order to fire the mine. Each contact'member comprises in the example shown a fixed cylindrical casing Q located within the flotation chamber and containing an inner spring controlled part Q and an outer part Qfiwhich parts up to the moment of launching the mine are held within the casing Q by a mechanical safety device R and a hand safety device RF cooperating with an annular head or flange R on the inner part Q The outer part Q is attached to the casing Q by a shearable screw Q. which also engages and holds in position a plain cylindrical pin Q located unwinding the within the base of the casing Q, and havin a head Q). The mechanical safety device cord S prior to the launching of the mine. a

The split pin is connected by, means of a. cord S to a catch S on the sinker so that in the separation of the flotation chamber from ,the sinker the aforesaid split pin R is automatically withdrawn. The inner part Q then moves outward under the influence of its spring, until a spring controlled pin T engages a recess T, thus locking the part Q in its extended position. Pivotally mounted on the inner end of the casing Q is a bent lever U, one end U of which engages the head Q of the pin Q. I Passing through an eye U in the other end of the lever is a cord or cable U which, after being passed through similar eyes'in as many other contact members as may be provided, is finally secured to the last eye of the series. Connected to the other end'U of the cord U is an eye U through which passes a second cord V, one end V of which is attached to a tensioning device (not shown) and the other end of which, after being passed through guiding pieces V and around a grooved pulley P controllin the firing gear, 1s finally attached to an eye on the interior of the flotation chamber. In the length of the cable V is aspring V which is placed in astate of tension by the aforesaid tensioning device connected to the cable end V so that it tends to rotate the pulley P. i As long asthe sprmg V remains in a state of tension, the end U of the aforesaid lever U is retalned in the position shown in the drawing, belng prevented from' movement by its other end U bearing against the head Q, of the pin Q The aforesaid firing gear comprises the connecting rod 0 which is connected-to the striker head 0 by radial detents O engaging a recess 0 in the connecting rod. The

striker casing is rovided with an enlarged part 0" sothat w on the connecting rod and striker head are permitted to be pulled downwardly a ainst'the resistance of the spring 0 the said detents will move radially outward and disconnect thestriker head from the connecting rod, and thus allow the said striker head to fly forward under the influence of the spring to fire the detonator and explode the mine. The connecting rod is normally prevented from downward movement by radial detents O havin beveled ends which engage a corresponding y formed aforesaid circumferential recess 0 the said connectng rod. .The detents O are normally held 1n engagement with the recess 0 by the formed with radial recesses, P shown by dotted lines, which, when thelpu'lleyis rotated as above described are brought opposite the outer ends of the detentsO so as to permit of their radial displacement and the liberation of the connecting rod-'0". W is a diaphra employed in lieu of the usual type of stu ng box to form a water tight joint. vIt will be understood that when the grooved pulley P; This pulley is mine is in its anchored position with the flotation chamber submerged ,f'at' the required depth below thesurface of the water, there is a constant tendency for the flotation.

chamber to rise owin to its buoyancy such rising movement belng prevented by the solid part of the pulley P engaging the locking detents O When, however, one of the protruding contact members Q is struck by a passing ship the lateral strain transmitted by the parts Q Q to the pin- Q} shears the latter, thus releasing the pin Q and allowing the lever U to be drawn down about its fulcrum by the tension of the cord U. The

pull of the spring V wilhthus cause the pulley P to perform a partial rotation and bring the recesses 1 opposite the ends of the detents O The buoyancy of the flotation chamber and the shape of the detents 0 will have the effect of forcing the latter into the recesses P and will permit the flotation chamber to rise slightly relatively to the striker and the anchor cable, thereby compressing the spring 0 as the striker casing .moves upward until the detents O come opposite the enlarged part 0 and release the striker head as aforesaid.

Sui-table means may be employed for varying the length of the sinker cable E.

' In another constructional form of the mine, instead of the aforesaid delayed action releasing device being interposed between the sinker C and the anchor B itmay be interposed between the anchor and the flotation chamber, the anchor being merely connected to the sinker by the sinker cable and not detachably locked thereto as is the case in the construction described with reference to Fig. 7. In this instance the de layed action releasing device may take the lace of the aforesaid coupling'device that is displaced to release the flotation chamber from the anchor when the sinker cable becomes taut. In this construction, the various operations that occur after the flotation chamber has become released from the anchor, are similar to those described with reference to Fig. 7

' What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is tion chamber, means for! causing said chant thewater and means for causing said chainber to be thereafter drawn downward to assume a predetermined depth below the surface. 7

2. A submarinemine comprising a flotation chamber, an anchor and a sinker which are adapted when launched to sink, as a single unit to the sea bed, a sinker cable inbetween the sinker and the anchor, an anchor cable interposed between thenchor and theflotation chamber, means forcau'sing the anchor and the flotation chamber. to separate from the sinker after the minereaches the sea bed and to rise by their buoyancy to an extent dependent upon the length of said sinker cable, meansifor causing the'flotaition chamber to become. disengaged from the anchor and to by its buoyancy toward the surface under thecontrol of said anchor cable, and means for causing the anchor to subsequently sink to the sea bed so as to draw the flotation chamber a predetermined depth below the surface.

3. A submarine mine comprising a flotation chamber, ananchor, a sinker and cables for connecting these parts, which on launching sink as a single unit to the sea bed, means for subsequently causing said parts to separate so that the flotation chamber rises by its buoyancy toward the surface, said anchor bein made hollow to possess initial buoyancy being provided with means whereby the permitted to enter it as the and external water is flotation chamber reaches the surface so as to overcome thebuoyancy ofthe anchor and cause it to sink to the sea bed and draw the flotation chamber a predetermined depth below the surface. 7 p

4. A submarine mine comprising a flotation chamber, an anchor and a sinker and cables for connecting these parts which parts on launching, sink to the sea bed and subsequently becomes separated from one another to a predetermined extent, and a slow releasin or delayed action device which allows tie anchor to separate from the sinker after theparts of the mine have reached the sea bed. a

.5. A submarine mine comprising a flotation chamber, an anchor and a sinker and cables for connecting these parts which parts on launching sink to the sea bed and subsequently become separated from one another [to at predetermined extent, and a slow releasing or delayed action device which allows the flotation chamber anchor.

to separate from the 6-. A submarine mine'coinprisil lg a fi otation chamber, an anchor possessing initial paying-out gear for said cable ing-out of said "cable the water,

chamber rising toward water.

and a sinker which on launching sea bed and subsequently become separated, a cable interposed between said buoyant anchor and the flotation chamber, and means for sto fi'm automatically the paying-out of sai cab c When reaches the surface.

buoyancy, sink to the the flotation chamber 7. A submarine mine comprising a flotation chamber, an anchor possessing initial buoyancy, and a sinkerwhich on launching -sink to the sea bed and subsequently become separated, a cableinterposed between said buoyant anchor and said flotation chamber, paymg out gear for said cable, means for stopping automatically the payand means for simultaneously admitting external water to the anchor so as to destroy its buoyancy'and cause it to sink to the sea bed.

8. A submarine mine comprising a flota tion chamber, means for causing-said chamber when launched to sink initially below the depth at which it is to be finally anchored, means for permitting said chamber subsequently to rise toward the surface of means'for causing said chamber to be thereafter drawn downward to assume a predetermined depth below the surface, contact members normally positioned within said flotation chamber, and means for causing said contact members to assume their operative position on the flotation the surface of the 9. A submarine mine comprising a flotation chamber, means for causin said chamber when launched to sink initially below the depth at which it is to'be finally anchored, means for permitting said chamber subsequently to rise towardthe surface of the water, means for causing said chamber to be thereafter drawn downward to assume a predetermined depth below the surface, contact members normally positioned within said'flotation chamber, means. for causing said-contact members to assume their operative positionon the flotation chamber rising toward the surface of the water, an explo sive charge within said flotation chamber and means adapted to be actuated on contact between said members and a passing ship for firing said explosive charge.

10. A submarine mine comprising a. flotation chamber, means for causing said chamber when launched to sink initially below the depth at which it is to be finally anchored, means for permitting said chamber subsequently to rise toward the surface of the water, means for causing said chamber to be thereafter drawn downward to assume a predetermined depth below the surface, contact members normally positioned within said flotation chamber, means for causing .saidc ontact members to assume their operative position on the flotation chamber rising toward the surface of the ater, an explosive charge Within said flotat on chamber, means adapted to be actuated on contact between said members and a passing ShlP for firing said explosive charge, said means comprising a firing gear,

device being adapted to be released by the rupture of one or more of-sa id contact members.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS KEPPEL NORTH. 

